Assessing community needs. A system's six-step approach yields tangible results

To respond to the changing needs of the communities it serves, the Sisters of Mercy Health System-St. Louis (SMHS) is committed to implementing and advocating for innovative health and social services that improve the health and quality of life of communities the system serves. One means to achieve these ends is the Agenda for Social Accountability. As part of this agenda, each of the system's strategic service units (SSUs) performs a community needs assessment. Phase one of the assessment consists of six steps: 1. Assign administrative responsibility 2. Review available data 3. Obtain information on community health status 4. Interview community leaders 5. Summarize results in a draft report 6. Incorporate conclusions into the strategic plan Many of the system's SSUs have completed the first cycle of the social accountability agenda and are exploring new initiatives for phase two. SMHS is investigating the idea of assessing the functional status of representative samples of community members as another method of measuring health status. And its primary research is broadening to include written surveys and focus groups with select audiences.